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Governor…General。 HE； I promise； did not decline the
obsequious invitation of the landlords to alight and refresh
himself in the neat country towns。 Having partaken of a
copious breakfast； with fish； and rice； and hard eggs； at
Southampton； he had so far rallied at Winchester as to
think a glass of sherry necessary。 At Alton he stepped
out of the carriage at his servant's request and imbibed
some of the ale for which the place is famous。 At Farnham
he stopped to view the Bishop's Castle and to partake
of a light dinner of stewed eels； veal cutlets； and
French beans； with a bottle of claret。 He was cold over
Bagshot Heath； where the native chattered more and
more； and Jos Sahib took some brandy…and…water； in
fact； when he drove into town he was as full of wine；
beer； meat； pickles； cherry…brandy； and tobacco as the
steward's cabin of a steam…packet。 It was evening when
his carriage thundered up to the little door in Brompton；
whither the affectionate fellow drove first； and before
hieing to the apartments secured for him by Mr。 Dobbin
at the Slaughters'。
All the faces in the street were in the windows； the
little maidservant flew to the wicket…gate； the Mesdames
Clapp looked out from the casement of the ornamented
kitchen； Emmy； in a great flutter； was in the passage
among the hats and coats； and old Sedley in the parlour
inside； shaking all over。 Jos descended from the post…
chaise and down the creaking swaying steps in awful
state； supported by the new valet from Southampton and
the shuddering native； whose brown face was now livid
with cold and of the colour of a turkey's gizzard。 He
created an immense sensation in the passage presently；
where Mrs。 and Miss Clapp； coming perhaps to listen
at the parlour door； found Loll Jewab shaking upon the
hall…bench under the coats； moaning in a strange piteous
way； and showing his yellow eyeballs and white teeth。
For； you see； we have adroitly shut the door upon the
meeting between Jos and the old father and the poor little
gentle sister inside。 The old man was very much affected；
so； of course； was his daughter； nor was Jos without
feeling。 In that long absence of ten years； the most selfish
will think about home and early ties。 Distance sanctifies
both。 Long brooding over those lost pleasures exaggerates
their charm and sweetness。 Jos was unaffectedly glad to
see and shake the hand of his father； between whom
and himself there had been a coolnessglad to see his
little sister； whom he remembered so pretty and smiling；
and pained at the alteration which time； grief； and
misfortune had made in the shattered old man。 Emmy had
come out to the door in her black clothes and whispered
to him of her mother's death； and not to speak of it to
their father。 There was no need of this caution； for the
elder Sedley himself began immediately to speak of the
event； and prattled about it； and wept over it plenteously。
It shocked the Indian not a little and made him think of
himself less than the poor fellow was accustomed to do。
The result of the interview must have been very
satisfactory； for when Jos had reascended his post…chaise
and had driven away to his hotel； Emmy embraced her father
tenderly； appealing to him with an air of triumph； and
asking the old man whether she did not always say that
her brother had a good heart？
Indeed； Joseph Sedley； affected by the humble position
in which he found his relations； and in the expansiveness
and overflowing of heart occasioned by the first meeting；
declared that they should never suffer want or
discomfort any more； that he was at home for some time
at any rate； during which his house and everything he
had should be theirs： and that Amelia would look very
pretty at the head of his tableuntil she would accept
one of her own。
She shook her head sadly and had； as usual； recourse
to the waterworks。 She knew what he meant。 She and
her young confidante； Miss Mary； had talked over the
matter most fully； the very night of the Major's visit；
beyond which time the impetuous Polly could not refrain
from talking of the discovery which she had made； and
describing the start and tremor of joy by which Major
Dobbin betrayed himself when Mr。 Binny passed with his
bride and the Major learned that he had no longer a
rival to fear。 〃Didn't you see how he shook all over
when you asked if he was married and he said； 'Who told
you those lies？' Oh； M'am；〃 Polly said； 〃he never kept his
eyes off you； and I'm sure he's grown grey athinking of
you。〃
But Amelia； looking up at her bed； over which hung
the portraits of her husband and son； told her young
protegee never； never； to speak on that subject again；
that Major Dobbin had been her husband's dearest friend
and her own and George's most kind and affectionate
guardian； that she loved him as a brotherbut that a
woman who had been married to such an angel as that；
and she pointed to the wall； could never think of any
other union。 Poor Polly sighed： she thought what she
should do if young Mr。 Tomkins； at the surgery； who
always looked at her so at church； and who； by those
mere aggressive glances had put her timorous little heart
into such a flutter that she was ready to surrender at
once；what she should do if he were to die？ She knew
he was consumptive； his cheeks were so red and he was
so uncommon thin in the waist。
Not that Emmy； being made aware of the honest
Major's passion； rebuffed him in any way； or felt
displeased with him。 Such an attachment from so true and
loyal a gentleman could make no woman angry。
Desdemona was not angry with Cassio； though there is
very little doubt she saw the Lieutenant's partiality for
her （and I for my part believe that many more things
took place in that sad affair than the worthy Moorish
officer ever knew of）； why； Miranda was even very kind
to Caliban； and we may be pretty sure for the same
reason。 Not that she would encourage him in the least
the poor uncouth monsterof course not。 No more
would Emmy by any means encourage her admirer； the
Major。 She would give him that friendly regard； which
so much excellence and fidelity merited； she would treat
him with perfect cordiality and frankness until he made
his proposals； and THEN it would be time enough for her
to speak and to put an end to hopes which never could be
realized。
She slept； therefore； very soundly that evening； after
the conversation with Miss Polly； and was more than
ordinarily happy； in spite of Jos's delaying。 〃I am glad
he is not going to marry that Miss O'Dowd；〃 she thought。
〃Colonel O'Dowd never could have a sister fit for such
an accomplished man as Major William。〃 Who was there
amongst her little circle who would make him a good
wife？ Not Miss Binny； she was too old and ill…tempered；
Miss Osborne？ too old too。 Little Polly was too young。
Mrs。 Osborne could not find anybody to suit the Major
before she went to sleep。
The same morning brought Major Dobbin a letter to the
Slaughters' Coffee…house from his friend at Southampton；
begging dear Dob to excuse Jos for being in a rage when
awakened the day before （he had a confounded headache；
and was just in his first sleep）； and